Birdlore

The Iridescent Life of Florence Merriam Bailey

A TRUE TALE WITH

A CHERRY ON TOP

Knopf Books for Young Readers

(pub. 3.18.2025)

48 pages

Ages 7 - 10

Author: Jess Keating

   Illustrator: Devon Holzwarth

Character: Florence Merriam Bailey

Overview:

" Before Florence, there was no such thing as "bird-watching". Bright plumes on lady's hats were all the rage, but no one was climbing trees or wading through marsh-grass to spot the birds they came from. Even scientists studied birds in labs instead of outside in their natural habitat.

But Florence changed all that. A bird-lover since childhood, she wanted to show the world what made these creatures special. She wanted everyone to care as much as she did, and so she taught classes, printed pamphlets, and eventually began leading bird walks so people could see it with their own eyes. Over time, they did see! With hard work and perseverence, Florence changed the way we look at birds, inspiring millions to follow in her footsteps on bird walks of their own."

Tantalizing taste:

"Kingfishers didn't belong on ladies' hats! They belonged at the water's edge, showing off their iridescent feathers as they hunted for fish.

Florence's heart thumped, and she bit back a cry.

Florence knew she must protect the birds from such horrors. But how? If only she could share her love of birds with the world. Then nobody would ever wear them as decoration on their silly hats again."

And something more: Jess Keating, shared in the Author's Note in Birdlore: "At that fateful dinner party in 1886, Florence was upset to learn of the thirteen dead kingfishers hat had been spotted on a hat, and the reality was much worse than she feared. At the time, 'plume hunters' were killing five million birds every year for ladies' hats...

To me, Florence embodies what it means to love nature. We mustn't just enjoy the wild places and creatures that have our hearts. We must stand up, share what we know, and act to protect them."